Catching Up With Corne Moolman

Corne Moolman

Tandem Instructor, Jump Master, Pro-rating, Rigger, Cameraman, PASA D license, 3150 skydives.

What did your wife and family say when you told them you would become a full-time professional skydiver?

My wife, Wilma, was relieved to hear that I was going to take it much easier now and skydive full time.. my cloak and dagger days are over for now. Now I live in fear every day but sometimes I leave my wife at home and go skydiving.

Of all the skydives you’ve made, is there one that stands out more than another?

All skydives are awesome but there are some that get another life ticked off.. think I’ve still got a couple left… my first-night jump in the military.. was jump number 7.. long story but being the last stick of the evening was not such a brilliant idea… completely tested myself and equipment that evening… as well as tracking skills of our squad.

What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?

Surf and skydive dude and between that spend time with my animals.

What are some of the things you’ve been busy with during lockdown?

Making a veggie garden… Oh and made some windproof jackets.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A game ranger and a fighter pilot.

What’s one thing you really want, but can’t afford?

A holiday on an exotic island. I don’t mind which one. Maybe Zanzibar. It’s beautiful. The nature there is cool and it has history. And Freddy Mercury was born there. I’m a huge fan.

What was the motivating factor that led you to the dropzone for the very first time?

My wife convinced me that it was the best DZ in South Africa with the best climate. I always do what my wife says. She’s a redhead and only a fool would take her on.

What is something that most people find amazing, but you don’t find to be very impressive?

My wife says that I always have a positive attitude no matter what our circumstances are. It rubs off on other people but she says I don’t even realize it.

Which of your scars has the best story behind it?

A python tried to take me down in Angola when I was a soldier. We were bathing in the river and the python grabbed my hand. You can still see the bite marks in my hand today. My friend managed to shoot it and we ended up feeding 300 troops python steaks. What is something you will never do again? I will never ever try remove a tattoo with a grinder again. Yes, believe it or not, I did that.